I am VERY excited to be giving you this chapter. I'm at a bit of a crossroads with this one so I shall post something at the end after you've all read the chapter to see what you all think should happen next. :) Thanks for the lovely reviews so far. Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Erik's Guest: Thanks for your review. :) Glad you enjoyed the banter between the two. It can't be serious all the time haha. ;) Yeah true, he wouldn't. :) Well it's funny you should say that as that kind of happens in this chapter :P... Yes, I definitely think her acceptance towards him might change his opinion on himself a little bit. Of course it will still be difficult but I like to think she'll help to have a positive impact. :) Yeah true. Well that is the question definitely. :) Yes indeed, hope you enjoy this chapter! :)

Grapejuice101: Glad you enjoyed the chapter and thanks for the review. I definitely think there is a little bit of that, yes. ;) Hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Buy his freedom with your love!

After a while of us wading though the water, we were greeted by the sound of shouts from a distance. I stopped for a moment to listen, turning towards the Vicomte who was staring ahead, a worried look on his face. He took the lead, staggering in front of me as I fought to keep up.

In the dimly lit cavern, a gate finally appeared in front. It was about three times bigger and appeared just as daunting as the rest of the lair. Lights flickered behind and the Vicomte sauntered ungracefully through the towering current of the water, his hand pressing against the bars.

"Christine!"

"Raoul!"

I stepped forwards at the sound of Christine's scream to stand beside him. She was stood in the middle of the large cavern, besides where the lake ended and near where a boat resided. She was wearing a white dress, presumably the wedding dress of the Phantom's. I frowned, wishing I could somehow change the inevitable events which were spiraling out of control. Her eyes widened even more when she noticed me.

"Oh no, no, no!" She wailed, shaking her head slowly.

The Phantom was stood beside her, a crazed smile drawn upon his features as he stared back at us. I frowned, feeling pity for him. Why did Christine have to unmask him on stage? Why couldn't she have just learned to accept his love sooner? Even the Vicomte had realized that she clearly had feelings for him and yet, it seemed she was reluctant to admit such a thing. It seemed a shame that it had ended up coming to this.

"I had rather hoped that you would come," the Phantom sneered, offering a smirk as he glanced towards the Vicomte.

His face looked even less frightening under the candlelight's of the lair, compared with the bright lights of the stage. Within the dimness that being underground offered, his deformity was hardly even noticeable.

"Let her go!" The Vicomte's voice begged from besides me.

The Phantom continued, taunting him further instead, by grabbing Christine by the neck. "And now my wish comes true…you have truly made my night!"

"Free her! At least show some compassion!" The Vicomte shouted, banging his fists against the metal gate in desperation.

"The world showed no compassion to me!" The Phantom exclaimed lividly.

I turned towards the Vicomte who was staring directly at him, his eyes narrowed in both anger and frustration. This was going to be no help in getting Christine back. All it seemed to be doing is making the Phantom grow angrier and making Christine more frightened.

"Please try to remain calm for Christine's sake. This isn't helping."

He nodded, one of his hands outstretched through the bars. "Christine, Christine, let us see her!"

"Be my guest, sir!"

The Phantom released Christine as he moved away to pull back the lever that opened the gate. As soon as it had reached over our heads, the Vicomte rushed in without a thought. I stepped through the gate reluctantly, noticing that Christine looked far too calm. I stood in the middle of the cavern, watching the Vicomte kneel besides her, pressing his hands to her arms as he examined her to make sure she was okay. I swallowed the knot in my throat at the sight. I always knew he still loved her, no matter how much he denied it. This was always how it was going to end. It was unavoidable. There was no point allowing myself to wallow, to wish that things could have been different, even if I was still wearing his jacket.

"Monsieur I bid you welcome, did you think that I would harm her?" The Phantom asked incredulously as he backed away from the two of them.

The Vicomte stood upwards from Christine, his eyes darting madly around the lair before settling on me and his shoulders seemed to sag in relief as he stepped backwards.

I peeled my eyes from him and towards Christine, dragging my body through the current to kneel beside her on the hard flooring. I placed a hand to her shoulder as she glanced up at me, her eyes wide.

"You should not have come here. Raoul shouldn't have let you."

"He tried to stop me but I refused to let him. There was no way I would have been able to stay away when you were in danger."

"Why should I make her pay, for the sins which are yours!" I heard the Phantom's enraged accusations fly about the cavern whilst Christine turned towards them.

"No Raoul!" She cried, stumbling upwards from the ground.

I turned, coming to stand beside her as a sharp cry fell from my lips too, at the sight before us. Oh god no please this couldn't be happening!

Raoul was now dangling from the edge of the lair, a Punjab lasso around his neck which he fought against with his hand wildly. A look of utter panic crossed his features as his feet kicked out, attempting to stay on his toes despite his feet barely being able to touch the floor.

I felt nauseated at the sight. I literally felt as though I was on the verge of being sick. Why did he have to follow me here? I suddenly wished that he was somewhere else, that he hadn't gotten himself involved in this fiasco tonight.

"Well isn't this quite the surprise!" The Phantom's booming voice made me jump and I reluctantly moved my eyes to his, still stood beside the Vicomte. His face was curious, watching me and Christine closely as his mocking laughter filled the cavern. I flinched at the sound, my eyes moving back to the Vicomte's struggling form.

"Both women who have somehow managed to fall in love with you, the pathetic Vicomte, practically bawling over your foreseeable death!"

My eyes widened at the sudden accusation, ignoring the way that the Vicomte was eyeing me curiously. I was ashamed enough, noticing Christine glancing my way from the corner of my eye. I dropped my head to the floor, fiddling nervously with my hands. I didn't want to see what reaction Christine might have offered. But there was also no point in denying it anymore. I had been doing that for the last three months and it hadn't gotten me anywhere. It hadn't changed anything either. I didn't have the energy to try and hate him anymore.

"Y-you're lying," I heard Christine's quiet stammer of a reply.

My eyes drifted close in response. Just when I thought I couldn't feel any worst.

"Why else do you think the Vicomte ended your engagement so suddenly?"

My eyes darted up, finding the Phantom's face. He was watching Christine closely but I refused to glance her way. I was too scared at what I might find when I did.

"That had nothing to do with that, I swear and nothing has happened between us!" I exclaimed frantically, though in truth I hadn't asked him to break the engagement off. I hadn't wanted him to. That night I had seen Marcel and was attempting to ignore whatever feelings I had for the Vicomte. The last thing I wanted was for Christine to believe that something had been going on.

"Maybe you are telling the truth. Though it is a little strange as to how quickly the Vicomte chose to finish his engagement, given your recent encounters with Marcus Bonneville." The Phantom considered, stepping forwards as he talked. "Perhaps though, you have a stronger influence on the Vicomte than you wish to believe."

As he continued to step forwards, I moved in front of Christine. "Listen please…see reason, for Christine's sake. I know you love her!"

A sad smiled etched itself onto his face. "It's too late for that."

Before I had time to react, he grabbed my arm and shoved me out of the way. He caught me as I tripped, spinning me round to face the Vicomte who was watching us both with wide eyes.

"And perhaps it would require a measly ballet rat to frighten the two of you more than the threat of the measly Vicomte's life."

His hand wound itself around my neck and I gasped, my eyes widening as I fought for oxygen. I struggled not to gasp against his hold, hearing Christine's yell from behind the Phantom. I met her gaze, finding her horrified stare.

"You despicable coward, let her go! She has nothing to do with this!"

The Phantom laughed, his eyes falling towards the Vicomte.

"Curious how you almost make a more convincing plead for her life then you did for Christine's!"

"This is not a trivial competition! This is their lives, you monster! You cannot win Christine's heart by threatening her like this!"

"P-please don't do this," I begged breathlessly. "H-he is right. You already have her heart."

He shook his head. "You are wrong. I have never had her heart, tonight proved as much. And it seems that causing the slightest threat against you, the ballet rat who has caught the Vicomte's newfound attraction has the power to gather most of their attention."

My hands pressed to the hand that was still pressed to my neck, my eyes begging him to let me go as he tightened his hold against me. Oh how had we got ourselves to this!

"Let her go! You are achieving nothing in harming her like this!"

"Very well Monsieur. I shall make this request simpler for you!" The Phantom sneered, quickly letting go of my neck.

I gasped as I slipped, my hand grazing against the rough ground. I summoned as much oxygen as I could; pressing a shaky hand to my neck to the heat of my throat, still feeling the imprint of his fingers against my skin. I stumbled upwards as the Phantom dragged Christine forwards, reaching out an arm. "Don't do this!"

"Start a new life with me, buy his freedom with your love, refuse me and you send him to his death! This is the choice! This is the point of no return!"

He dropped Christine back to the floor as he paced over to his organ in the corner of his lair. His hand slammed down on the keys, still managing to create the most exquisite sound possible.

Christine crawled towards me, whispering unnecessary apologies. She had done nothing wrong in this.

"Please I beg you!" Christine sobbed, turning back to the Phantom, who was watching us closely. "I only ask that you let her go; there is no reason for her to be here."

"It's fine really-"

"Ignore her! Listen to Christine! You require us both here, fine. But let her leave!"

The Phantom raised an eyebrow. "You heard the girl."

An angry cry fell from Christine's lips, her eyes narrowing. "The tears I might have shared for your dark fate grow cold…and turn to tears of hate!"

The Phantom ignored her as he marched from his organ.

"Christine forgive me, please forgive me!" I turned back at the sound of the Vicomte's voice.

He was watching in despair, looking so utterly lost as the Phantom retrieved the scattered veil that Christine had been wearing, throwing it to the floor in front of her. It was like his metaphor for her having to now make her decision.

"Angel of Music, you deceived me, I gave you my mind blindly!" Christine exclaimed. She fell to her feet in front of the Phantom.

I had to get involved somehow. No matter how frightened I was, I needed to help Christine. It was obvious that she was distraught by making her choose in such a way and I still felt as though he didn't need to do this.

"You don't need to do this!" I insisted, stepping forwards to gather the Phantom's attention. "You don't need to make her choose because sooner or later, she will come to you anyway. I promised you that in the beginning and I promise you that now. Anybody can see that she loves you, that she cares for you. I don't know why she took your mask from you on stage like she did tonight but I still genuinely believe that she loves you the most."

"Yes, yes, you promise a lot of things but it still hasn't made a difference. We have still managed to return to this situation. Christine's feelings obviously remain the same," he turned away from me, offering a weak mumble of words. "And who can blame her. Anyone else would do the same."

"You must know that isn't true." I insisted, stepping forwards whilst his attention was still diverted. "I for one do not loathe you or think you're a monster. And so what if those audience members think in such a way. Think that you're the cursed monster you've always been led to believe. They are just people, ones that you'll probably never see again. Their opinion shouldn't matter to you."

When he didn't reply, I moved around him, tilting my head to see his reaction. He was staring at the floor, his expression guided but his eyes were wild with so many emotions. Pain, sadness, fright and I could still see that he didn't trust me, didn't trust in what I was saying.

I stood in front of him, taking a deep breath before placing my hands on either side of his arm to gather his attention. He glanced up, his eyes wide.

"You're not a monster." I insisted.

And I truly believed that he wasn't. Yes, I supposed his face was a little startling at first but it certainly didn't frighten me. His lips were swollen, patches of skin missing from his face with only half a nose still intact but it was just a face. His actions tonight were out of temper and jealousy more than anything else, same with the night when he killed Joseph Bouquet.

"It is just a face; it does not taint the person who you are. Yes, you have murdered before but you don't have to again. The Vicomte isn't a threat, allow us all to leave and you will see for yourself that Christine will come back to you. Frightening her like this will only drive her further and further away. She will learn to accept you as I do and perhaps in time, everyone else will eventually too."

He raised an eyebrow, a look of disbelief crossing his features. "Y-you accept me?"

I smiled, offering a short laugh. "Well of course I do. I wouldn't have advised you as much as I had if I didn't. Maybe I shouldn't defend you murdering Joseph Bouquet or anyone else for that matter but I really do not believe that you do these things intentionally. It's the life that you've grown accustomed to but you don't need to do those things anymore."

He paused for a moment, staring at me doubtfully before reluctantly offering a timid nod. I watched him as he moved away from us, offering Christine one last glance over as he did. She stared back in surprise, watching him closely in the same way.

He moved back towards his organ, picking up a single candle from the candelabra before glancing back toward the Vicomte, who appeared just as bewildered.

As he began to pace back towards him, I gasped, instantly taking a step forwards and watching with wide eyes. The Phantom glanced back over at us one last time before turning back. With an angry growl, the rope about the Vicomte's head singed from the flame of the candle, breaking the rope.

The Phantom marched over to Christine before she could move, his hands catching her arms as though to stop her from moving to him.

I frowned before turning back to see the Vicomte was keeled over, desperately trying to capture his breath. Without a second though, I ran to his side, kneeling in front of him.

"Raoul…are you alright?" I asked, my fingers gingerly brushing against the noose which was still wrapped around his neck, helping him free from its hold.

He nodded, his wide eyes rising to mine as he gasped breathlessly.

My breathe caught in my throat as his arms wrapped around me, pulling me to him. His fingers shook against my back and his sigh of relief washed over my neck. I pulled back though, catching his eyes again and flinching when he reached a hand out, his fingers brushing against the slight marks on my neck softly.

"But you are not okay." He frowned.

"Oh no, it will fade." I glanced back to see Christine was still stood with the Phantom, watching the two of us in a peculiar way.

His forehead furrowed. "Y-you just called me Raoul too."

"What?"

"Well you normally sneer it when you simply entitle me as the Vicomte,"

"Oh," I replied uncertainly, flushing nervously under his gaze. "I didn't even realize. Perhaps, I have been unnecessarily harsh to you at times."

He offered a sheepish smile. "None of that matters. It was just pleasant to hear you finally speak my name without the ferocity usually associated with the two of us."

I flushed again, reluctantly lowering his hand from my neck with mine, trying to ignore the way he was gazing at me as I helped him from the floor.

We stumbled forwards to Christine's side. She was still glancing between us and I could tell that she was thinking something.

"Are you alright?" The Vicomte turned to ask Christine worried.

She nodded, avoiding his eyes as she turned away.

I winched as the Phantom began to shout for us to leave, his sobs of despair filling the cavern as he moved away from where we were stood. It seemed that he realized that I was right in stating that he couldn't make Christine stay here. She had to learn what she wanted by herself.

I felt awful for him though, given the circumstances. He had nobody, he literally had nobody. I paused as we moved back to the entrance to the lair, considering that. If anybody could relate to having nobody, it was me. For years, it had been just me and Mum but now that I was here, I was alone.

Raoul and Christine both turned towards me, confusion etched across their features as I stepped backwards through the lake.

"I…I need to go back."

"What?-"

"No, you cannot go back there!" Raoul interrupted Christine, instantly stepping forwards the further back I moved.

I held a hand up, attempting to stop him from moving any closer. I needed to do this. It was the right thing to do. I didn't know how long it would take Christine to realize that she should be with the Phantom or if she even would at the moment but he needed someone there with him. I knew more than anyone how lonely this existence could be and I also knew how devastated he was right now. If I could be there for him, make his loneliness easier for him than surely that was something? Maybe if he realized that I accepted him for he was then he would realize that Christine would still be able to.

"I need to. I can't just leave him alone."

I turned away but was pulled back by the Vicomte, his hand reaching out to press against my wrist. He appeared desperate, his hold tightening as he stepped forwards. "Y-you do not need to remain here. I cannot return without you."

His words were curious given how he hadn't included Christine in that. His eyes were pleading but I dropped my gaze quickly, knowing that I was likely to agree with him just to keep him happy.

This was right.

"You shall be fine, you have Christine. Do not worry about me."

With his attention caught and his hold slipping, I moved as quickly as I could through the lake before he could stop me again. That was easier said than done given how strong the current was, but finally I made it to the steps. I blocked out Raoul calling my name from behind me as much as I could, hearing Christine insisting that they both go back alone in the hope that he would agree with her. He didn't need to be here too. He didn't need to be involved in this.

Right because I didn't want to spoil the ending for anyone at the top, I thought I would ask the question down here. The story has ended on a bit of a cliffhanger and I am in the process of writing up a chapter with two possible endings. One is that Charlotte goes back with Raoul and Christine. The other is that she stays with the Phantom whilst he is trying to process the events of the night. Because I'm undecided and because I really want you guys to have your say too, what ending to that chapter would you prefer to see and test out? :) Please review with your thoughts/answers/comments.